Safety closure

ABSTRACT

A child-resistant, two-piece closure which may be attached to a container by conventional capping machines. An inner cap member is formed with a circular top panel having a depending skirt integrally molded therewith. The depending skirt is threaded on its interior surface for engagement with a conventional threaded container finish. A ring wall projects vertically from the periphery of the top panel of the inner member. A plurality of spaced apart drive projections extend upwardly from the ring wall. Plural ratchet lug means also extend upwardly from the upper surface of the top panel. An outer member is likewise formed with a circular top panel and an integral depending skirt. Integrally formed with the interior of the outer member top panel are a plurality of downwardly extending leaf spring members. A plurality of drive lugs extend downwardly from the periphery of the interior of the outer member top panel. The two members are assembled by pressing the inner member over a retention bead formed in the interior of the lower portion of the outer member depending skirt. The leaf spring members are inclined from a horizontal plane and will drivingly engage the ratchet lug means in the tightening direction to allow the assembled closure to be put on a container. However, the leaf spring members will slip over the lug means if one attempts to remove the closure, thus allowing the outer member to rotate freely with respect to the inner member. To remove the closure, the outer member must be pressed down to overcome the bias of the leaf spring members. This will bring the drive lugs of the outer member into engagement with the spaces between the drive projections of the inner member, thereby allowing rotation of the inner and outer members in unison to allow removal of the closure.

umt'ord et al.

[ SAFETY CLOSURE [75] Inventors: G. Victor Mumford; Richard C. Williams,both of Toledo, Ohio [73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, lnc., Toledo, Ohio[22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 402,199

Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price Assistant Examiner-R. E. Hart Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Steve M. McLary; E. J. Holler 57 9 ABSTRACT Achild-resistant, two-piece closure which may be attached to a containerby conventional capping machines. An inner cap member is formed with acircular top panel having a depending skirt integrally molded therewith.The depending skirt is threaded on its interior surface for engagementwith a conventional l Dec. 31, 1974 threaded'container finish. A ringwall projects vertically from the periphery of the top panel of theinner member. A plurality of spaced apart drive projections extendupwardly from the ring wall. Plural ratchet lug means also extendupwardly from the upper surface of the top panel. An outer member islikewise formed with a circular top panel and an integral dependingskirt. integrally formed with the interior of the outer member top panelare a plurality of downwardly extending leaf spring members. A pluralityof drive lugs extend downwardly from the periphery of the interior ofthe outer member top panel. The two members are assembled by pressingthe inner member over a retention bead formed in the interior of thelower portion of the outer member depending skirt. The leaf springmembers are inclined from a horizontal plane and will drivingly engagethe ratchet lug means in the tightening direction to allow the assembledclosure to be put on a container. However, the leaf spring members willslip over the lug means if one attempts to remove the closure, thusallowing the outer member to rotate freely with respect to the innermember. To remove the closure, the outer member must be pressed down toovercome the bias of the leaf spring members. This will bring the drivelugs of the outer member'into engagement with the spaces between thedrive projections of the inner member, thereby allowing rotation of theinner and outer members in unison to allow removal of the closure.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEE3 1 1914 3.857. 505

SHEEI 1 [IF 2 PATENTEDum 1 I974 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 7

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to closuresfor containers. More specifically, this invention relates to achild-resistant safety closure. Most particularly, this inventionrelates to a child-resistant safety closure, having an improved type ofremoval drive, which may be applied with conventional capping machinery.

The closure of the present invention is similar in concept to onedisclosed in a co-pending application, U.S. Ser. No. 273,177, filed July19, 1972 and having an assignee and one inventor in common with thepresent closure. The closure disclosed in the cited application hasproven commercially workable. However, the present invention wasdeveloped to provide a better removal drive and to enhance the safetyfactor of the cited closure. Examples of the prior art may be seen inthe following US. Pat. Nos. 2,964,207; 3,055,524; 3,692,199; and3,705,662.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is a child-resistant closure forcontainers having an externally threaded finish portion. The closureincludes the following components: (a) An inner cap member is formedhaving a top panel integrally formed with a depending skirt portion. Thedepending skirt portion has threads formed on its interior surface forengagement with the container finish portion. A vertically extendingring wall is integrally r formed with the periphery of the inner membertop panel. A plurality of spaced-apart drive members extend upwardlyfrom the ring wall; (b) An outer. cap member is formed with a top panelintegrally formed with a depending skirt portion. The depending skirtportion of the outer member loosely encompasses the depending skirt ofthe inner member to allow relative rotary and axial movement between theinner and outer members. A plurality of downwardly directed drive lugsare integrally formed with the top panel of the outer member on theinterior thereof. The drive lugs will engage the spaces between thedrive members in one position of axial displacement of the inner andouter members and will be disengaged therefrom in a second axialposition of the inner and outer members; (c) Ratchet lug means areformed on'either the inner or the outer member and are interposed thesetwo members; (d) A plurality of inclined leaf spring members are formedon either the inner or the outer member and are interposed these twomembers. The leaf spring members provide a biasing force to maintain theinner and outer members normally in the second axial position. In thisposition, the leaf spring members will engage the ratchet lug means todrive the inner and outer members as a unit in the closure tighteningdirection, but will slip over the ratchet lug' means freely in theuntightening direction to prevent unscrewing of the inner member fromthe container finish portion. Downward pressure on the outer member willovercome this bias of the leaf spring members to place the inner andouter members in the first axial position; and (e) A means is providedfor loosely retaining the inner member within the outer member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view,partially cut away, of the outer cap member of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the interior of theouter cap member of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the inner capmember of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified inner cap member asshown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partially cut away, of the innermember shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partially cut away, of the assembledclosure in engagement on a container in the configuration forapplication to a container; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the inner and outer membersengaged for rotation as a unit to allow removal from the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The closure of the presentinvention is made up of two components: an outer cap member 10, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and an inner cap member 12, shown in FIG. 3, withmodifications of this member 12 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. With referenceto FIG. 1, the outer cap member 10 is formed with a circular top panel14 integrally molded with a depending skirt portion 16. Molded into theunderside of the top panel 14 and extending into the interior of theouter member 10 are a plurality ofleafspring members 18, 19,20 and 21,best seen in FIG. 2. The embodiment illustrated shows four leaf springmembers 18,19, 20 and 21, but as few as two members will operatesatisfactorily, and more than four members may be employed if desired.The'leaf spring members 18, 19, 20 and 21 take the form of inclined tabsintegrally molded with the underside of the top panel 14. The leafspring members 18, 19, 20 and 21 are inclined at an angle of about 45with respect to the vertical axis of the outer member 10; however, theangle of inclination may be varied so long as a ratcheting function, tobe described later, may be properly performed. It should also be notedthat the leaf spring members l8, 19, from the center of the top panel1-4 which is less than the inside radius of the outer member 10. Inaddition to the spring members, a plurality of drive lugs 24, 25, 26 and27 are also molded into the underside .of the top panel 14 and dependdownwardly. The drive lugs 24 through 27 are preferably located adjacentto the extreme outer portion of the inside diameter of the outer capmember 10 adjacent to the depending skirt 16. The drive lugs 24 through27 then extend inwardly toward the leaf springs 18 through 21, but theiredges terminate before reaching the leaf spring members 18 through 21.The illustration of four drive lugs 24 through 27 is simply by way ofillustration and a single drive lug would function properly, butmultiple drive lugs are preferred to allow a number of different removalengagement positions, as will be described later. A retention bead 28 ismolded into the interior wall of the depending skirt 16 near the lowerportion of the depending skirt 16. The retention bead 28 is continuousabout the entire circumference of t:he'.depending skirt 16. The outercap member 10 may be manufactured of any material sufficiently resilientto provide the neces- 20 and'21 are positioned on a radius lar top panel30 and a depending skirt 32 attached thereto. The interior of thedepending skirt 32 ay be provided with threads 34 for engagement with athreaded finish portion of a conventional container. Projectingvertically up from and integrally attached to the top panel 30 are aplurality of ratchet lug means. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, theratchet lug means take the form of four ramp-type lugs 36, 37, 38 and39. Each of the ramp lugs 36 through 39 has a substantially L-shapedconfiguration formed by an inclined ramp portion 40 joined to an axiallyextending vertical wall portion 42. The beginning of the ramp portion isin a plane substantially identical to the plane of the top panel 30. Thevertical wall portion 42 terminates at an elevation such that the springmembers 18 through 21 will jam on the vertical wall portion 42 if it isattempted to pass them by the vertical wall portion 42. This, of course,takes place in the assembled closure, and this precise function will bedescribed in detail later. The precise configuration of the ratchet lugmeans is not an especially critical aspect of this particular closure.For example, FIG. 4 illustrates a modification ofthe ratchet lug means,in which the ratchet lug means comprises four elliptically shaped,vertically or axially extending ratchet lugs or raised bosses 36', 37',38 and 39'. The ratchet function could be achieved by the use of asingle elongated lug extending diametrically across the center of thetop panel 30. Spaced between each of the ramp lugs 36 through 39 in FIG.3 are teardrop shaped detent projections 44, 45, 46 and 47. These detentprojections 44 through 47 project above the plane of the top panel 30and, likewise, lie in the path of travel of the spring members 18through 21. The precise functioning of these members will be explainedlater in detail. It may, likewise, be seen that the upper portion of theinner cap member 12 is ofa general configuration that may be consideredto be castellated. That is, a ring wall 48 rises above the plane of thetop panel 30. Spaced at intervals around the ring wall 48 are upwardlyor axially extending drive projections 49 through 52. In the assembledclosure, the drive lugs 24 through 27 on the interior of the outer capmember are sized such that they may mesh into the openings between thedrive projections 49 through 52. This imparts a driving force to theinner cap member 12 so that it may be driven with the outer cap member10. As best seen in FIG. 5, a retention bead 54 is molded into theexterior surface of the depending skirt 32. The retention bead 54extends about the entire circumference of the depending skirt 32 and isof a diameter greater than that of the retention bead 28 formed in thedepending skirt 16 of the outer cap member 10. The depending skirtportion 32 may terminate in an inwardly depending tapered sleeve 56which has formed therein a number of grooves 57. This particular featureis strictly for convenience in manufacture and allows removal of theinner cap member 12 from a mold with greater facility,

- the grooves 57 serving as a gear drive to screw the inner cap member12 off ofits mold form. The modified form of the inner cap member 12,designated in FIG. 4 as 12, retains substantially most of the featuresdescribed with resepct to the inner cap member 12. In fact, these twomembers 12 and 12 are interchangeable with the outer cap member 12.However, specific problems involved with differing sizes of closures,that is in terms of the actual diameter of the container which theclosure is to seal, require some modifications of the specific design ofthe drive mechanism. As previously described, the ratchet lug means inFIG. 4 are in the form of the elongated elliptical lugs 36 through 39'.In addition, two radially separated arcuate lands extend bevtweenadjacent ratchet lugs 36 through 39'. These lands 58 and 59, are usedprimarily to bias the spring -members 18 through 21 into a particulardesired degree of downward force and to hold their position accurately.This enhances the safety feature of the assembled closure in eliminatingany possibility of accidental engagement of the drive mechanism. Itshould be realized that the elliptical ratchet lugs 36' through 39 couldbe used with the detent projections 49 through 51, and conversely, theramp lugs 36 through 39 could be used with the arcuate lands 58 and 59.The precise configuration which will be chosen depends upon the specificdesign problems involved, but is a matter that should be readily solubleby one skilled in the art. The inner cap member 12 is an independentclosure-in itself for a container. The inner member 12 therefore may bemade of any suitable material and need not necessarily be made of thesame material as that of the outer cap member 10; however, it has beenfound that a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene orpolypropylene is particularly well adapted for the manufacture of theinner cap member 12.

With respect to FIG. 6, the completed safety closure of the presentinvention is shown partially cutaway. The safety closure is formed byassembling the outer cap member 10 and the inner cap member 12. Toassemble the completed closure, the retention bead 28 is forced over theretention bead 54, in the process causing the depending skirt 16 of theouter closure cap member 10 to spring outwardly slightly. Once thelarger diameter retention bead 28 has passed over the retention bead 54,the depending skirt springs back inwardly trapping the inner cap member12 within the outer cap member 10. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the fitbetween the outer member 10 and the inner member 12 is not tight. Thereis an appreciable gap between the interior of the depending skirt 16 andthe exterior of the depending skirt 32. Thus, the outer cap member 10may both rotate and axially slide with respect to the inner cap member12. It will be appreciated that the actual configuration of the innercap member 12 shown in FIG. 6 is the modified embodiment 12 shown inFIG. 4. The inner cap member 12 is threadably engaged on the exteriorlythreaded finish portion 60 of a container 61. A sealing disk 62 istrapped between the upper portion of the finish 60 and the lower portionof the top panel 30 of the inner member 12. The leaf spring member 18may be seen to be in driving engagement with the lug 37. Similarly,although not seen in this view, the other leaf spring members 19, 20 and21 are in driving engagement with the other ratchet lug members 36', 38and 39'. Thus, the completed closure as shown in FIG. 6 may be screwedonto the finish of a container 61, since the rotation of the outer capmember 10 will cause the leaf spring members 18 through 21 to drivinglyengage the ratchet lugs 36' through 39' and consequently turn the outermember and the inner member 12 as a unit in the tightening direction.Conversely, it may be seen that if the outer member 10 were rotated inthe opposite direction or the direction normally unscrewing the cap fromthe container 61, the leaf springs 18 through 21 would slip over theratchet lugs 36 through 39'. Thus, these two functions provide aone-way. ratchet drive for the inner cap member 12'. The outer capmember 10 thus can rotate freely with respect to the inner member 12' inthe loosening direction. It is this feature which makes the combinedclosure child resistant, since it is impossible to unscrew the combinedclosure without an additional motion. Furthermore, the gap between thedepending skirt 32 and the depending skirt 16 makes it unlikely that achild could compress the outer member 10 by squeezing it against theinner member 12 suff1- ciently to be able to unscrew the inner member 12from the finish 60 of the container 61. Many closures of this type inthe prior art provided a tight engagement between the two components ofa closure, thus making it possible to squeeze the outer member againstthe inner member and obtain a driving engagement, thereby by-passing thechild-resistant features of the closure. The arcuate lands 58 and 59 ofthe inner closure member 12' are seen to be touching the leaf springmembers 18 through 21, thus holding the leaf spring members 18 through21 in a preferred biasing position, providing a known spring force tokeep the inner member 12 separated from the outer member 10. Althoughthe embodiment designated as 12 in FIG. 3 is not shown, it should beobvious to one skilled in the art that the ratchet function justdescribed would also take place if this particular embodiment were used.In the tightening direction, the leaf spring members 18 through 21 wouldwedge or drivingly engage the vertical wall portions 42 of the ramp lugs36 through 39. Thus, the combined closure could be tightened or screwedonto the threaded finish 60 without any further manipulation.Conversely, if the outer cap member 10 were rotated in the loosening orunscrewing direction, the leaf springs 18 through 21 would rise up theramp portions 40 of the ramp lugs 36 through 39 and would not impartsufficient loosening torque to the inner cap member 12; The detentprojections 44 through 47 act as a further safety feature in theembodiment shown in FIG. 3. If the outer cap member 10 is turned in adirection which would normally unscrew the combined closure from thefinish 60, once the leaf springs 18 through 21 have risen completely upthe ramp portion 40 of the ramp lugs 36 through 39 and fallen off theopposite side, the detent projections 44 through 47 will tend to holdthe leaf springs 18 through 21 in that position. It is necessary then toexert further force to move the leaf springs 18 through 21 to the nextramp lug to raise it up the ramp portion 40. In addition, the detentprojections 44 through 47 are positioned such that the drive lugs 24through 27 are aligned with the drive projections 49 through 52 when theleaf springs 18 through 21 are stopped by the detent projections 44through 47. This position helps prevent overstressing of the leafsprings 18 through 21 when the closure is subjected to a vertical load,as in a warehouse. The drive lugs 24 through 27 are in contact with thedrive projections 49 through 52 to prevent this overstressing.

To remove this closure from a container finish 60, the outer cap member10 must be compressed down wardly over the inner cap member 12, as shownin FIG. 7. The configuration of FIG. 7 may be considered one position ofaxial displacement of the outer member 10 and the inner member 12',while the configuration of FIG. 6 may be considered a second position ofaxial displacement of the outer member 10 and the inner member 12'. Theleaf spring members 18 through 21 serve to normally keep the outermember 10 and the inner member 12 in their relationship shown in FIG. 6,in which configuration removal of the closure from the container isimpossible. However, utilizing the spring function of the leaf springs18 through 21, the outer cap 'member 10 may be pressed downwardly overthe inner cap member 12. The downward-displacement of the outercapmember 10 brings the drive lugs 24 through 27 into engagement withthe spaces between the drive projections 49 through 52. It should berealized that the alignment of the drive lugs 24 through 27 and thespaces between the drive projections 49 through 52 may not be perfect atthe time the outer cap member 10 is pressed downwardly. However, slightrotation of the outer cap member 10 in the loosening direction willbring these members into proper drive engagement. With the drive lugs 24through 27 properly engaged, the outer cap member 10 may be rotated andthe inner cap member 12 will rotate with it as a unit through thisdriving engagement. Once the combinedclosure is removed from thecontainer and the downward pressure on the outer cap member 10 isreleased, the combined closure will spring back the configuration shownin FIG. 6 under the influence of the leaf spring member 18 through 21,thereby placing the closure in configuration suitable for reapplication.The user may then screw the closure back onto the container finishutilizing the driving engagement of the leaf springs 18 through 21 andthe ratchet lugs 36 through 39'. Once back on the container, thecombined closure may not be removed again without the downwardcompression of the outer cap member 10 over the inner cap member 12. Dueto the ratchet drive arrangement, it has been found that when a childattempts to remove the assembled closure from a container 61 withoutpressing downwardly on the outer cap member It), an audible warningsound is produced. The leaf springs 18 through 21 slipping over theratchet lugs 36' through 39 produce a loud and distinctive clackingsound. This sound may be heard for some distance and can serve as awarning, to parents that children are tampering with a container whosecontents may be harmful to them.

The combined closure of this invention assembled from the outer member10 andthe inner member 12 or 12' may be applied by conventional cappingmachinery, since there is no need for any manipulation of the closureduring the tightening procedure. That is, the combined closure mayalways be put onto the finish of a container 61 without any extramanipulation of the combined closure, a departure from the requirementsof most child-resistant closures of the prior art.-However, removal ofthe closure requires manipulation which has been found to be beyond theabilities of most children.

We claim:

'1. A child-resistant closure for containers having an exteriorlythreaded finish portion comprising, in combination: an inner cap memberhaving a top panel integrally formed with a depending skirt portion,said depending skirt portion having threads formed on the interiorsurface thereof for engagement with said finish portion of saidcontainer, an axially extending ring wall integrally formed with theperiphery of said inner member top panel, a plurality of spaced apartdrive members formed in the outer extremity of said ring wall; an outercap member having a top panel integrally formed with a depending skirtportion, said depending skirt portion of said outer member looselyencompassing said depending skirt portion of said inner cap member toallow relative rotary and axial movement between said inner and outermembers, a plurality of downwardly directed drive lugs integrally formedon the interior of the top panel of said outer member, said drive lugsengaging the spaces between said drive members in one position of axialdisplacement of said inner and outer members and being disengagedtherefrom in a second axial position of said inner and outer members;-

ratchet lug means formed on one of said innerand outer members andinterposed said members; a plurality of inclined leaf spring members,formed on one of said inner and outer members and interposed saidmembers, said leaf spring members providing a biasing force to maintainsaid inner and outer members in said second axial position and todrivingly engage said ratchet lug means in said second axial position todrive said inner and outer members as a unit in the tightening directionof said closure but slip over said ratchet lug means freely in theuntightening direction to prevent unscrewing of said inner member,downward pressure on said outer member overcoming the bias of said leafspring members to place said inner and outer members in said first axialposition; and means for loosely retaining said inner member within saidouter member.

2. The closure of claim l,'wherein said ratchet lug 3. The closure ofclaim 2, further including detent projections, formed on the exterior ofsaid inner member top panel, positioned between said ratchet lugs forinterference with said leaf spring members in the untightening directionof saidclosure.

4. The closure of claim 2, further including at least one arcuate landextending between each of said ratchet lugs, said leaf spring membersnormally being biased by contact with said arcuate lands.

5. The closure of claim 1, wherein said ratchet lug means comprises atleast two inclined ramp ratchet lugs integrally molded on the exteriorof said inner member top panel, each of said inclined lugs including, aramp portion inclined upwardly in the direction in which said innermember would be moved for removal from said container finish, and anaxially extending wall portion joined to the upper terminus of said rampportion.

6. The closure of claim 5, further including detent projections; formedonthe exterior of said inner member top panel, positioned between saidinclined ramp lugs for interference with said leaf spring members in theuntightening direction of said closure.

7. The closure of claim 5, further including at least one arcuate landextending between each of said inclined ramp lugs, said leaf springmembers normally being biased .by contact with said arcuate lands.

8. The closure of claim 1, wherein said leaf spring members comprise atleast two downwardly extending flexible tabs integrally molded on theinterior of said top panel of said outer cap member.

1. A child-resistant closure for containers having an exteriorlythreaded finish portion comprising, in combination: an inner cap memberhaving a top panel integrally formed with a depending skirt portion,said depending skirt portion having threads formed on the interiorsurface thereof for engagement with said finish portion of saidcontainer, an axially extending ring wall integrally formed with theperiphery of said inner member top panel, a plurality of spaced apartdrive members formed in the outer extremity of said ring wall; an outercap member having a top panel integrally formed with a depending skirtportion, said depending skirt portion of said outer member looselyencompassing said depending skirt portion of said inner cap member toallow relative rotary and axial movement between said inner and outermembers, a plurality of downwardly directed drive lugs integrally formedon the interior of the top panel of said outer member, said drive lugsengaging the spaces between said drive members in one position of axialdisplacement of said inner and outer members and being disengagedtherefrom in a second axial position of said inner anD outer members;ratchet lug means formed on one of said inner and outer members andinterposed said members; a plurality of inclined leaf spring members,formed on one of said inner and outer members and interposed saidmembers, said leaf spring members providing a biasing force to maintainsaid inner and outer members in said second axial position and todrivingly engage said ratchet lug means in said second axial position todrive said inner and outer members as a unit in the tightening directionof said closure but slip over said ratchet lug means freely in theuntightening direction to prevent unscrewing of said inner member,downward pressure on said outer member overcoming the bias of said leafspring members to place said inner and outer members in said first axialposition; and means for loosely retaining said inner member within saidouter member.
 2. The closure of claim 1, wherein said ratchet lug meanscomprises at least two axially extending raised bosses acting as ratchetlug projections integrally molded on the exterior of said inner membertop panel.
 3. The closure of claim 2, further including detentprojections, formed on the exterior of said inner member top panel,positioned between said ratchet lugs for interference with said leafspring members in the untightening direction of said closure.
 4. Theclosure of claim 2, further including at least one arcuate landextending between each of said ratchet lugs, said leaf spring membersnormally being biased by contact with said arcuate lands.
 5. The closureof claim 1, wherein said ratchet lug means comprises at least twoinclined ramp ratchet lugs integrally molded on the exterior of saidinner member top panel, each of said inclined lugs including, a rampportion inclined upwardly in the direction in which said inner memberwould be moved for removal from said container finish, and an axiallyextending wall portion joined to the upper terminus of said rampportion.
 6. The closure of claim 5, further including detentprojections, formed on the exterior of said inner member top panel,positioned between said inclined ramp lugs for interference with saidleaf spring members in the untightening direction of said closure. 7.The closure of claim 5, further including at least one arcuate landextending between each of said inclined ramp lugs, said leaf springmembers normally being biased by contact with said arcuate lands.
 8. Theclosure of claim 1, wherein said leaf spring members comprise at leasttwo downwardly extending flexible tabs integrally molded on the interiorof said top panel of said outer cap member.